James Gurney

This daily weblog by Dinotopia creator James Gurney is for illustrators, plein-air painters, sketchers, comic artists, animators, art students, and writers. You'll find practical studio tips, insights into the making of the Dinotopia books, and first-hand reports from art schools and museums.

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Imaginative Realism

Dinotopia: The World Beneath

"A ravishing, action-packed adventure." —Smithsonian. Now with 32 extra behind-the-scenes pages. Signed by the author/illustrator

Dinotopia: Journey to Chandara

160 pages, fully illustrated in color. Written and illustrated by James Gurney. Signed by the author

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Writing GurneyJourney takes dozens of hours each month. If you get as much out of this blog as you get from a cup of coffee or a nice meal out, please consider contributing to my citizen journalism in the visual arts.

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or by email:gurneyjourney (at) gmail.comSorry, I can't give personal art advice or portfolio reviews. If you can, it's best to ask art questions in the blog comments.

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All images and text are copyright 2015 James Gurney and/or their respective owners. Dinotopia is a registered trademark of James Gurney. For use of text or images in traditional print media or for any commercial licensing rights, please email me for permission.

However, you can quote images or text without asking permission on your educational or non-commercial blog, website, or Facebook page as long as you give me credit and provide a link back. Students and teachers can also quote images or text for their non-commercial school activity. It's also OK to do an artistic copy of my paintings as a study exercise without asking permission.

Another great video and a great way to start the weekend. I am curious when you master time travel though, since the video happens in eight days :). You put the 28 of October. Thanks again and have a good one.

I just played around with a new water travel brush. It's a little better then the clear blue handel ones. It's easier to load with water (Turn the end to have water come in our out.) With this you can control the flow of water. It's about 14 bucks on amazon (9.00 + shipping). Thought you might be interested http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004D9YVIG/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00

Also, a friend showed me this travel watercolor set he got off of jet pens. It's only fifteen bucks, great pigment and comes with a permeant white so you can play with some gouache as well.

That's really a nice painting but I think it could show more about the process.. Because for me I see something like: http://bakedideas.tumblr.com/post/2684292583/ben-casnocha-the-blog-how-to-draw-an-owl

Extremely helpful to see you paint with gouache. I assume the wash at the beginning was also gouache? Just wondering because I've seen a few artists do the larger areas with watercolor then go back in with gouache for the details.

Also, is there any way to do something like glazing with gouache? The best I've come up with is lightly going over areas I want to darken with colored pencils. Been thinking a light dry-brushing with the gouache might work as well.

You know Mr.Gurney, since I was a teenager I always wondered how on earth you were able to finish so many paintings (for Dinotopia) without spending years and years of work. Seeing your videos, and seeing how fast you work, has solved the mystery!

Frankly it does feel weird to watch the guy who made one of my favorite books in action.

Keith, right, definitely winging the perspective. I should probably do a video explaining more about that one topic.

I know there were a lot of skipped steps and compressed time. Will try to do a longer video to fill in the gaps.

Greathouse, thanks for those links. Appreciate the chance to learn about new materials. And Oops, you're right about the date. My number brain turns off when I'm painting.

Michael, the first washes were transparent watercolor. Glazing in gouache doesn't work so well because the surface would be disturbed by anything wet overlaid. You might try acrylic gouache which from what I hear has a more water resistant surface when dry.

Jean, let me deal with your interesting question as a post, because I think it invites discussion from the group mind.

Thanks as always for the great post. I'd love to see your travel gouache setup if you'd be willing to share! I'm always wondering if I should add it to my watercolor setup, or create a separate kit for it or how the best way to incorporate it into my bag would be to give myself options.Thanks again, Mr. Gurney!

Yes, yes, Please do more on how you sketch with gouache, I've also used it with w/c but really can't seem to get the results anywhere near this and especially when sketching/plein aire painting - no matter what you call it!